Roots in Abruzzo: A Childhood of Rich Experiences

Ciao, piacere di conoscerti…nice to meet you. My name is Luca, and I am the creator of this Abruzzo travel blog. This is my family. We are an international family: my wife is half Canadian and half Mexican, my boy was born in Kenya, and the little one was born in Luxembourg. I am the least international in the family because I was 100% proudly born and raised in Abruzzo.

I grew up in Pescara, a sunny and vibrant coastal city, and have lovely memories of happy and cheerful days at the beach, family, friends, beautiful meals, and much more.

I am lucky because my family originally came from a village not far from Pescara, not even from the village itself but from a farm in the middle of the countryside. I loved spending time there and that rural component of my childhood. I remember the excitement of meeting the local people, seeing their farms and animals, riding on a tractor, eating our own vegetables (my grandfather was growing them), picking olives, and making our own oil. I was fascinated by the genuineness and authenticity of that life and place. Now, even more, many years later, I am.

Discovering the Diversity of Abruzzo

My parents and I rarely traveled abroad, but we explored Abruzzo extensively: villages, towns, mountains, parks, castles, and festivals.

Since then, I always appreciated the diversity of my region: the beach, the mountains, the lakes, the countryside, the old villages, the history, the traditions, the dialects, the food. And what about the wild animals? Wolves, bears, and more. There is so much to see and to do in Abruzzo. From the stunning beaches of Pescara to the majestic peaks of the Gran Sasso, from the tranquil shores of Lake Scanno to the charming streets of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. I always felt privileged.

Exploring Italy: A Journey Beyond Abruzzo

However, when I was sixteen, I left home to chase my dreams and follow my aspirations, and since then, I have never stopped moving around. But I always kept my connection with Abruzzo solid and intense, a bond that has shaped my identity and experiences.

During those years, I lived in Naples, Modena, Turin, and Livorno in Tuscany and traveled all over Italy. I explored my beautiful country’s new regions, cultures, habits, and traditions. We all know Italy is extraordinary and unique. Still, I always proudly shared my origins Abruzzesi, especially with those people (even Italians) who did not even know where Abruzzo was (that happened, and still happens).

I used to promote Abruzzo and its beauties to everyone at school, the university, work, and with random people I met. Over the years, I brought many friends to my home in Pescara in summertime, winter, and anytime. They all had a great time and were amazed by my unknown region, and I loved letting friends discover and enjoy Abruzzo.

Venturing Beyond Italy: A Global Perspective

At some point in my life, I started traveling outside Italy. Initially, I was just a tourist, curious about exploring new places, mainly in Europe. All the other countries were very different from my traditional country, Italy. Then, I started studying abroad, traveling further away, and discovering new continents. I got more serious about traveling, and my trips took me deeper into other countries’ cultures and societies. At that point, and you might understand me, it is challenging to go back and not travel once you start discovering the world.

My best option was to start working abroad and traveling almost daily. I was lucky enough that my dream materialized. So, for the last sixteen years, I have been living and traveling for work and fun, alone and with my family. And it has been great. I lived in dozens of countries, between Europe, the Middle East, South America, Australia, Africa, and Asia, and I traveled to many more.

Maintaining Roots: A Home in Penne

Before starting my conversion to become a perpetual expat, I had an idea that was one of my best (important) decisions. In some way, I felt I was betraying Abruzzo and being ungrateful for all I had gotten from my land by leaving like that. I thought I was disclaiming my origins and was afraid I would break my strong connection with Abruzzo. So I bought a house in a town that became my second home, Penne. That house became my comfortable shelter for whenever I was returning home, a place I am forever grateful for, and it still is (my kids, too, are so excited and happy when we go to Penne).

My connection and passion for Abruzzo grew even more during my several years away. In those years, I have been describing Abruzzo and its history, traditions, food, and hidden treasures to hundreds of people from every corner of the globe.

Passing on the Love for Abruzzo

It is essential for me to pass on this bond with Abruzzo to my kids as well, even if they were neither born nor lived there. We love Abruzzo, we love Penne. We often miss it! We found that the nature, the people, the culture, the food, and everything in Abruzzo are still unique, genuine, and unspoiled compared with other more popular regions in Italy. We are heavy travelers and travel as much as possible, even with two young kids. We also love history, culture, good food and wine. When we travel, we always ensure our holidays become great cultural and culinary experiences.

Sharing Abruzzo: The Birth of “Discover Abruzzo, Italy”

I started this travel blog to help more people discover, explore, and eventually enjoy and love Abruzzo as I do. In recent years, I have met several people from Europe, North America, and Australia in Abruzzo. They came for several reasons: visiting for the first time, looking for a house to buy, searching for a place to move and spend the rest of their lives, and sometimes even seeking their root family. They all share one thing: they fall in love with Abruzzo.

My mission with this travel blog, “Discover Abruzzo, Italy,” is to help you experience real Italy, away from the tourist crowds, where traditions are alive, and nature is unspoiled. Eventually, you will love it. I have the experience, knowledge, and passion of a real Abruzzese and am a seasoned traveler. So I can help you if you want a genuine and authentic Italian experience—and help Abruzzo. Welcome to “Discover Abruzzo, Italy,” and thanks for reading my story.